SÉANCE DU 16 NOVEMBRE 1025 



shown among them the présence of germ carriers which were affected 

 before their departure to the front. 



Such facls which are identical to those seen before the war are of 

 great importance. 



The meningococcus carrier has played in this war a part in the pro- 

 pagation of this disease which, even if was rather limited, existed ail 

 the same; it has helped in keeping up, during thèse four years of war, 

 the spécifie germs which under favorable influences may grow, multiply 

 and hâve more than in the past a wide-spread and important pathogenic 

 action. Accurate examination of certain facts has proved to havr been 

 it, the link between meningitis cases which seem to be so independent 

 from one another, and it has allowed affections in the interior, to cross 

 the ;,line of the army zone where fortunately they disappeared shortly 

 after their outbreâk. 



Prophylaxie. Prophylaxis should hâve been conceived on tbe basis 

 already -known before the war. Without negJecting the fight against 

 occasional causes the lîrst thing to do was to prevent the propagation 

 of the meningococcus, and therefore every effort should hâve been made 

 to stop the contagions power of the germ carrier which is the main 

 élément. Indeed, ail the measures considered as a whole should, in 

 this respect, be taken into considération. For it musl be admitted that 

 by reason of military necessity the epidemiologist is often disarmed in 

 dealing with the predisposing causes which he is helpless to affect, at 

 the very moment when he considers himself able to be rid of them. 



AU prophylaxis should consist in the isolation of meningococcus 

 carriers, whether sick or not,,which measure alone can prevent the'evil 

 effect in the groups which hâve been contaminated. 



Such spécifie and complète prophylaxis can be realized oniy in the 

 following manner : 



As soon as the first meningitis case is observed one must : 1° isolate 

 those who are in contact and considered suspect until the exact nature 

 of the causal germ has been determined. 



2° In the case of the meningococcus, lake the necessary measures 

 among the suspected in order that the carriers of the meningococcus 

 may be isolated, and that the necessary bacteriologicalexaminatioris be 

 taken in order to make clear the character of the organisms. 



3° Isolate the subjects pronounced to be carriers until the organism 

 bas disappeared from their rhino pharynx. Treat them by an appli- 

 cation of antiseptics (gomenol oil) in the nasal passages. 



Thèse were the essentials of prophylaxis in peace time. 



This program, indeed, seemed difficult to realize in war. Never- 

 theless, it has been carried out in ail particulars. 



Whether a case of meningitis has appeared in the first-line trenches 



